Which Bridgerton Co-Star Made Yerin Ha Cry?
Yerin Ha is Bridgerton’s newest star — and while the cast hasn’t made her cry, the casting did. She says she burst into tears from sheer shock after landing the season 4 lead, as she revealed to Elle.
Bridgerton has its new leading lady, and she met the moment with happy tears — not because anyone on set reduced her to them, but because the role landed in her lap at the most public, wonderfully awkward time.
How Yerin Ha found out she was the new lead
Yerin Ha (Halo, Dune: Prophecy) is the latest addition to the ton, stepping in as the female lead opposite Luke Thompson's Benedict Bridgerton in Season 4. She told Elle she was visiting Korea with her mom when her agent broke the news. Cue instant waterworks — on a busy street in Gangnam, no less.
"It shocked me and I was genuinely crying tears, just on the streets of Korea in Gangnam. Everybody was looking at me really weirdly, but it was really nice."
Joining a juggernaut like Bridgerton as the new kid can be intimidating. Ha admits she was nervous at first, but says the cast and crew were welcoming. After nine months of filming, she describes the vibe as family.
Meet Sophie Baek (yes, Baek)
Book readers know Benedict's love interest as Sophie Beckett from Julia Quinn's third Bridgerton novel, An Offer from a Gentleman. The show tweaks that: Ha will play Sophie Baek. Showrunner Jess Brownell changed the surname to reflect Ha's Korean heritage — and, neat detail, kept the character's 'B' last-name initial intact. Ha told Elle she appreciated the production shaping the character to fit who she is, and that the change felt empowering rather than cosmetic.
Fans seem to agree. Early reactions have been positive about the switch, praising it as a thoughtful way to deepen the show's already inclusive, heightened Regency world without touching the core Sophie-and-Benedict romance.
Benedict's season goes full fairy tale
Season 4 centers on the most artistic Bridgerton brother, Benedict. The classic setup stays: at Violet Bridgerton's masquerade ball, Benedict spots Sophie — the mysterious Lady in Silver — and their story takes off from there. Luke Thompson calls this run a spin on a bedtime staple:
"The storyline is a bit of a twist on Cinderella. You remember being told those stories as a child — the magic and the romance of them. It's really exciting to have that weaved into the world that we know of Bridgerton … It's such a great story, but it's also, I hope, really relatable."
Who's back, and when it drops
Alongside Thompson and Ha, familiar faces return, including:
- Jonathan Bailey
- Victor Alli
- Adjoa Andoh
- Julie Andrews
- Lorraine Ashbourne
- Simone Ashley
- Masali Baduza
- Nicola Coughlan
- Hannah Dodd
Mark your calendars: Bridgerton Season 4 Part 1 premieres January 29, 2026. Part 2 follows February 26, 2026.